Mastectomy removes most of the breast tissue and skin around the nipple. A cut is made above and below the nipple and all the breast tissue down to the chest wall muscle is removed. The cut is usually horizontal. At the end of the operation, one drain may be placed. These come out below the wound and are usually removed the day after surgery. In some cases they may be kept in a little longer, in which case you can go home with the drains in place.

Problems that can occur after mastectomy • Wound healing delay- The edges of the mastectomy wound may not heal properly. This usually settles but can require dressings for a few weeks. • You sometimes find you are left with a lumpiness at the outer edge of the scar under the armpit. This lumpiness and swelling usually settles over a period of time. Occasionally this extra tissue (the common name for this is a dog ear) needs to be trimmed at a later date. • Infection. Any operation site can become infected. The main symptoms are redness, increasing pain, swelling, feeling feverish and unwell, discharge from the wound. • Bleeding- Even though all bleeding that is visible is stopped during the operation, bleeding from the cut edges of the breast tissue can occasionally start after the operation and cause blood to collect in the wound. This is uncommon and happens in about 2 in every 100 patients. The normal time for this to develop is within the first 12 hours after the operation. This is the reason why your wound is checked following surgery. If a large amount of blood collects this needs draining by a second operation. • Seroma- This is very common after mastectomy. Fluid collects underneath the mastectomy scar and produce a swelling. If it causes too much discomfort it can be aspirated in clinic using a needle and syringe.​. Scar- can be painful and numb sometimes long term.​. ​General anaesthetic risks- chest infection, clots in legs lungs and other systemic complications.